Proverbs 1:1-7 1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: 2 for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight; 3 for receiving instruction in prudent behaviour, doing what is right and just and fair; 4 for giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young
5 let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance 6 for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. 7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Fearing god is not a running away from Him, but a running to Him
The fear of the Lord points to the greater acknowledgement of the holiness of God
Leviticus 19:2 Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy."
The church knows the love of God well, but knows the fear of the Lord little
1) New Beginnings
Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
What are your expectations of someone who is teaching you? What are your expectations of yourself as you teach someone else? What are your expectations of yourself as a child in relation to your parents? What are your expectations of your own child? What are your expectations of yourself as a child of God?
Proverbs 4:3-9 3 For I too was a son to my father, still tender, and cherished by my mother. 4 Then he taught me, and he said to me, Take hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands, and you will live. 5 Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them.
6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. 7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. 8 Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honour you. 9 She will give you a garland to grace your head and present you with a glorious crown."
All children need the fear of the Lord to be taught to them.
You can insert your name and personalize these Proverbs
2) New Boundaries
Proverbs 8:13 To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behaviour and perverse speech.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and your ability not to compartmentalize God in every season of your life - Pastor Albert Tate -
A) Pride & Arrogance
Jeremiah 5:22-25 22 Should you not fear me? declares the Lord. Should you not tremble in my presence? I made the sand a boundary for the sea, an everlasting barrier it cannot cross. The waves may roll, but they cannot prevail; they may roar, but they cannot cross it.
23 But these people have stubborn and rebellious hearts; they have turned aside and gone away. 24 They do not say to themselves, Let us fear the Lord our God, who gives autumn and spring rains in season, who assures us of the regular weeks of harvest. 25 Your wrongdoings have kept these away; your sins have deprived you of good.
Mark 7:21-23 21 For it is from within; out of a person s heart, that evil thoughts come sexual immortality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly.
Romans 1:29-31 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy.
B) Evil Behaviour
C) Perverse Speech
1 Peter 2:1 Therefore, rid yourself of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.
Proverbs 4:24 Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
Proverbs 21:23 Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.
3) New Benefits
Proverbs 10:27 The fear of the Lord adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.
Those who fear the Lord will have preventative wisdom
Do not be satisfied with living an ordinary life. Living in the fear of the Lord is living the extraordinary life.
Psalm 147:11 - He delights in them Psalm 25:14 - He is a friend to them Malachi 3:16 - Their names are written in His book Acts 10:35 - He accepts them Psalm 33:18 - He watches over them Psalm 103:13 - He is their Father Psalm 103:17 - His love remains with them forever Psalm 145 :19 - He grants their desires Luke 1:50 - He shows mercy to them Psalm 31:19 - He stores up goodness for them
Psalm 34:7 - His angels surround them Psalm 14:26 - He is a refuge for their children Psalm 34:9 - They will have all they need Psalm 11:5 - They will have food Jeremiah 5:24 - He will assure their harvest Psalm 25:12-13 - He will show them the right path, they will have prosperity and they will inherit the land Psalm 85:9 - His salvation is near them Psalm 112:1 - They are joyful Proverbs 22:4 - They have riches, honour and long life 2 Chronicles 26:5 - He ensures success in leadership
Acts 9:31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.